Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake has pleaded not guilty to his Contempt of Court charges at the Supreme Court (SC) and the SC fixed the next hearing of the case to 5 September.

The charge sheet drawn up by Deputy Solicitor General Priyantha Nawana on behalf of the Attorney General was taken up before a SC Judge bench comprising of Chief Justice Priyasath Dep and Justices Nalin Perera and Prasanna Jayawardena.

Defendant Deputy Minister Ramanayake informed the Court through his lawyers that he does not accept the allegations directed at him after the charge sheet was read out to him in Court.

However, the Court decided to hear the charge sheet and ordered Nawana to present witnesses regarding the incident on 5 September and said a date for the hearing of the case will be announced on that date.

Two petitions were filed against the Deputy Minister by Ven. Magalkande Sudatta Thera of the Sihala Ravaya and retired Air Force Officer Sunil Perera alleging that the Deputy Minister had insulted the reputation of the judiciary and the lawyers at a press conference held on 21 August last year.

The petitions have pointed out that such defamatory statements by a Government Deputy Minister will shatter public confidence on the law of the land and provide a distorted image of the judiciary to the people of Sri Lanka.